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How Bruce Willis’ Wife Emma Heming Willis Explains His Illness to Their Kids
Bruce Willis’ wife Emma Heming Willis is cherishing the good times.
Almost two years after the Die Hard actor’s wife, his ex-wife Demi Moore, and his kids Rumer Willis, 36, Scout Willis, 33, Tallulah Willis, 30, Mabel Willis, 12, and Evelyn Willis, 10, announced that he'd been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia, Emma shared some of her favorite family memories on her Dec. 22 Instagram Stories.
The series of throwback pics included a black-and-white photo of the couple with their kids Mabel and Evelyn, along with some images of the 69-year-old spending time with the girls—whether it was teaching them how to swing on the golf course or taking a spin on the infamous teacups ride at Disney. And Emma showed her love with a simple, “Them. Always,” written over the photos.
While his family cherishes these moments they get to spend with the Pulp Fiction actor, Emma recently shared insight into how she’s approached explaining his diagnosis to their young daughters.
“Finally getting to a diagnosis was key so that I could learn what frontotemporal dementia is and I could educate our children,” the 36-year-old said in an October interview with Town & Country magazine. “I’ve never tried to sugarcoat anything for them. They’ve grown up with Bruce declining over the years. I’m not trying to shield them from it.”
She even turned to professional advice to ensure that she was handing the situation in the best way for their girls.
“What I learned from our therapist was that if children ask questions, they’re ready to know the answer,” she noted. “If we could see that Bruce was struggling, I would address it with the kids so they could understand.”
Emma Heming Willis / Instagram
But while his family has come to terms with the changes his dementia would bring to their relationship, Emma couldn’t help but mourn the future she had imagined for their family.
“We had so many plans, so many beautiful things we wanted to do with our girls, so many things that we wanted to experience together,” Emma lamented. “You just rip that page out completely, and then how do you rewrite the story?”
“I’m learning how to take some control back,” she continued. “It might not be the most beautiful story I could have thought of, but there are cracks of light.”
Emma Heming Willis / Instagram
And in the spirit of embracing those cracks of light, Bruce’s entire family has continued to make heartwarming memories. This past Thanksgiving, Scout and Tallulah—who he shares with Demi—even shared some photos from their blended family holiday celebrations.
In the two Instagram photos, Bruce held a sign that read “Best Dad Ever,” as his daughters sat by his side, giving him the most adoring looks.
And Tallulah let the photos speak for themselves, writing a simple, “grateful,” in the caption.
For more of Bruce’s sweet family moments, keep reading…
Instagram / Rumer Willis
Bruce's 69th Birthday
"Oh Daddio, to be loved by you is such a gift," Rumer Willis wrote in an Instagram tribute to her father in March 2024. "You are the funniest, most tender, charming, out of this world silly talented and magical papa. Looking through these photos this morning I am just filled with the deepest gratitude that we chose to spend this life together. I am your first baby and man sometimes I wish I could be tiny enough to just cozy up on your chest again and laugh and cuddle you."
She continued, "I love you so deep in my bones I don’t know how my muscles hold them. You are the greatest papa I could ever hope for. Thank you for your generosity, your silliness and heart. Lou loves you so big. Happy Birthday Daddio."
Instagram / Emma Heming Willis
Valentine's Day 2024
Love is a beautiful thing," the actor's wife Emma Heming Willis wrote on Instagram, almost exactly one year after his family announced his frontotemporal dementia diagnosis. "Wishing you all a Happy Valentine’s Day."
Instagram / Demi Moore
Tallulah Willis' 30th Birthday Celebration
In February 2024, Demi Moore shared this pic of her ex-husband with the youngest of the three daughters they share together, writing, "Showering our @buuski with love today on her 30th birthday."
Instagram / Emma Willis
"Grateful and Thankful"
In November 2023, the actor celebrated his first Thanksgiving since being diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia earlier that year. His wife Emma shared this photo from Bruce's 68th birthday party from March.
"I’m grateful and thankful to know this kind of love," she wrote. "Wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving."
Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for goop
Blended Family
Bruce Willis stepped out with Emma to celebrate the release of Demi's 2019 memoir Inside Out. He is joined by his three daughters with the G.I. Jane actress, Rumer Willis, Scout Willis and Tallulah Willis.
Instagram/Emma Heming Willis
Adventure Is Out There
Bruce and Emma appear on a hike with their daughters Evelyn Willis and Mabel Willis.
Phil Faraone/VMN18/Getty Images For Comedy Central
All Smiles
The actor posed with his ex-wife and their daughters Rumer and Tallulah backstage at his Comedy Central roast in 2018.
Three Generations
Bruce became a grandpa in April 2023 when Rumer welcomed a baby girl named Louetta.
Newest Addition
The entire family got together to celebrate the birth of Rumer's baby.
Instagram/Emma Heming Willis
Backstage Buddies
Bruce had two special vistors when he starred in Broadway's Misery in 2016.
Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic
Broadway Bunch
The family showed up in full force to support Rumer's 2015 Broadway debut as Roxie Hart in Chicago.
Instagram/Emma Heming Willis
Feeling Festive
"I put my camera on a ladder, set the timer, and crossed my fingers," Emma captioned this family Christmas photo. "Now that’s 2020 for you."
Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for goop
Movie Date
Bruce took his three oldest daughters to the Over the Hedge premiere in 2006.
Instagram/Emma Heming Willis
Sweet Kisses
The dad of five shared a sweet moment with daughter Mabel.
Chris Polk/FilmMagic
Daddy's Girls
Tallulah, Scout and Rumer joined their dad at a Bruce Willis Charity Foundation in 2005.
Instagram/Emma Heming Willis
Dancing With the Fam
The family celebrated Rumer's Dancing With the Stars win with Val Chmerkovskiy.
Instagram/Rumer Willis
Polaroid Memories
"What a privilege it is every day to be your daughter," Rumer captioned this throwback photo. "I love you so much. You are the coolest cat in town."
Instagram/Emma Heming Willis
A Birthday to Remember
Emma rang in her 43rd birthday in 2021 with Bruce and their daughters, as well as Rumer and Demi.
'Tis the Season
The family spent Christmas 2022 together.
Gregg DeGuire/WireImage
Star Status
Bruce was joined by mom Marlene and his three oldest daughters when he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2006.
Instagram/Emma Heming Willis
Happy Haunts
The action star dressed up with Mabel and Evelyn on Halloween 2021.
Instagram/Tallulah Willis
Getting Silly
Tallulah jokingly captioned this photo of herself and dad Bruce making silly faces, "high drama club."
Instagram/Emma Heming Willis
Snow Squad
Evelyn and Mabel hit the slopes during a family ski trip.
Gregg DeGuire/WireImage
Gang's All Here
The family, including Demi's then-husband Ashton Kutcher, stepped out to watch Rumer in 2008's The House Bunny.
Instagram/Emma Heming Willis
Disney Magic
Bruce and Emma took their kids to Walt Disney World in 2017.
Instagram/Emma Heming Willis
Proud Parents
"First time performing in a play for these two!" Emma wrote on Instagram 2018. "Mabel played Molly and Evelyn as Sandy in an Off-off-off-off-off-off Broadway [winking emoji] production of Annie. The whole cast and production was stellar—Mom and Dad couldn’t be prouder."
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